Fact File Cillian Murphy

Ten things you never knew about Irish actor Cillian Murphy.

Irish actor Cillian Murphy returns to cinemas this Friday in John Maybury’s new pic ‘The Edge of Love’, the story of poet Dylan Thomas (played by Rhys), his wife Caitlin MacNamara (played by Miller) and their married friends, the Killicks (played by Knightley and Murphy). But what do you really know about Cillian Murphy? Movies.ie profiles the actor who shot to international fame after ‘28 Days later’:

 

 

(1) Raised in Cork, Cillian is the son of a school inspector and a French teacher.


(2)
As a teenager, he played in a Frank Zappa-influenced band called ‘Sons of Mr. Greengenes’ with his brother.

 

(3) When first nominated for an MTV Award, they called him “Sil-ian” Murphy…

 

(4) Before acting he had planned a career in law.

 

(5) He was considered for the role of the Dark Knight.The part was eventually given to Christian Bale but director Christopher Nolan liked Cillian’s audition so much that he gave him a role as Batman’s arch- nemesis Jonathan Crane/Scarecrow, who is a developing character in this movie.

 

(6) Has played two psychopaths in 2005: Dr. Jonathan Crane (Scarecrow) in Batman Begins (2005) and Jackson Rippner in Red Eye (2005).

 

(7) Holds the record for most IFTA nominations (Six)

 

(8) Was originally to star as the central character in the Oscar winning ‘Once’. The role eventually went to ‘Frames’ singer Glen Hansard due to scheduling conflicts.

 

(9) His favourite movie is ‘The Shining’

 

(10)Murphy will next star opposite Ellen Page and Susan Sarandon in the psychological thriller ‘Peacock’.


 

See Murphy in the ‘The Edge of Love’, in Irish cinemas Friday.